It is always awkward to reunite with one’s former school in the UAAP.
For Mark Nonoy, that awkwardness led to a dismal performance on the floor for De La Salle University against his former team University of Santo Tomas.
The former Growling Tiger’s stat line read three points behind one-out-of-six shooting from the field. He also had just three rebounds, one assist, two turnovers, and a plus/minus rating of -7 in 18:51 minutes of action in La Salle’s 75-66 bounce-back win over UST.
“First, medyo gigil siyempre,” admitted the 20-year-old Nonoy. “Ayoko magpatalo sa former team ko and, yun nga, medyo nagkalat. So sabi na lang ni coach , ‘Huwag lang manggigil, gawin lang ang dapat na pinapagawa sa amin.’
“Yun lang ginawa ko pero gigil pa rin.”
Throughout the contest, the Negros Occidental native committed uncharacteristic errors and just could not get into the groove. From averaging 14 points in his last three games as a Green Archer, he only sunk three this time around.
Indeed, there will be better days to come for the 5-foot-8 spitfire guard. For now, though, he will take this lesson of keeping his emotions in check in his stride.
“Siyempre nandun yung excitement ko kase gusto kong kalabanin ulit sila and then gusto ko din talunin sila. So nasa mindset ko, nasobrahan siguro. Nasobrahan sa gigil and sa excitement. Yun nga sabi nila, ni coach, wag kong hanapin yung tira ko kase darating lang yun,” said Nonoy as his head coach Derrick Pumaren remarked, “Masyadong gigil eh!” right beside him.
“Sobrang gigil lang talaga.”
The arrival of UAAP fans inside the venue was also a factor for the Green Archer. It has been two long years since the league has welcomed fans into its games, which is a welcome respite as things gradually go back to normal again.
Their presence adds excitement to the game. In Nonoy’s case, perhaps too much, to the point that he can only play better in front of them next time around.
“Hindi naman po. Siguro sobrang excited lang talaga ako kase yun nga, nandun din yung crowd and yung crowd ko dati and yung DLSU crowd nandiyan din,” he said.
“Excited lang.”
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